Connection to the grid
Updated: 09.01.2019
Author: Krzysztof Ignaciuk
Where a plant operator and a grid operator have concluded a connection agreement, the plant operator may demand from the grid operator that his plant be connected to the grid. The grid operator is obliged to enter into an agreement with every plant operator that is interested in being connected and whose connection is technically and economically feasible (Art. 7 par. 1 Energy Law). The plant operator must meet the grid operator's connection requirements (Art. 7 par. 1 Energy Law).
Procedure
| Process flow | - Application. The applicant requests the specifications for connection requirements from the grid operator (Art. 7 par. 3a Energy Law).
- Connection requirements. The grid operator is obliged to notify the plant operator of the connection requirements within a certain period of time (Art. 7 par. 8g Energy Law). Connection requirements are applicable for two years from the date of receipt. During this period, the grid operator has to make sure that grid capacity is sufficient to connect the plant to the grid (Art. 7 par. 8i Energy Law). The connection requirements shall include the envisaged timetable for connecting a RES-plant, taking into account the various stages of grid development (Art. 7 par. 8d8 Energy Law).
- Advance payment. Plant operator wanting to connect to a grid with rated voltage of more than 1 kV is obliged to make an advance payment of PLN 30 (€ 6.99) per kW of installed capacity to the grid operator. This payment must be made within fourteen days after the system operator has requested the connection requirements to be set (Art. 7 par. 8a and 8c Energy Law). The advance payment must not exceed the total costs of connection and must not exceed PLN 3 million (€ 0.7 million) (Art. 7 par. 8b Energy Law).
- Connection agreement. The grid operator enters into a connection agreement with the plant operator. The grid operator is obliged to enter into such an agreement if the connection of the plant in question is technically and economically feasible (Art. 7 par. 1 Energy Law). If the grid operator refuses to enter into an agreement with an applicant, he has to inform regulatory authority URE and the applicant in written form and without undue delay about the reasons for his refusal (Art. 7 par. 1 Energy Law). Disputes are resolved by the URE (Art. 8 par. 1 Energy Law). Where the grid operator refuses to connect a plant for reasons of insufficient economic conditions, the grid operator and the plant operator may agree on a connection fee other than the usual fee (Art. 7 par. 9 Energy Law).
- If the applicant for the connection who wants to connect a micro-installation (installation using renewable energy sources with a capacity up to 40 kW (Art. 3 No. 20b Energy Law)), is already connected to the grid as a final consumer and the installed capacity of the micro-installation is not greater than that specified in the connection requirements, the grid connection is based on the notification of the connection of micro-installation to the grid operator (Art. 7 par. 8d4).
|
|---|
| Deadlines | The Energy Law does not specify deadlines regarding the connection of plants to the grid. However, a grid connection agreement must contain the date of connection and provisions regarding delays in connection (Art. 7 par. 2 Energy Law).
Apart from that, the law specifies deadlines for the grid operator to notify the plant operator of the connection requirements within a certain period of time. The notification deadline depends on the voltage level at which the plant is to be connected. The deadlines are: - 30 days after the advance payment was made where a plant is connected at a voltage level of up to 1 kV.
- 150 days after the advance payment was made where a plant is connected at a voltage level of more than 1 kV (Art. 7 par. 8g Energy Law).
|
|---|
| Obligation to inform | The connection agreement should include among others: deadline for completion of connection, connection fee, schedule of completing the connection, the expected date of conclusion of the electricity supply agreement, the quantity of electricity for reception, connection capacity (Art. 7 par. 2 Energy Law). The grid operator is obliged to notify the plant operator of the connection requirements within a certain period of time (Art. 7 par. 8g Energy Law). The operator of a grid with a voltage level of more than 1 kV is obliged to gather and compile information on: 1) every applicant for connection to the grid, the connection point, entry capacity, type of installation, date of issue of the connection requirements, start date of the connection agreement and of electricity supply, 2) the total amount of available transmission capacity, as well as planned changes to this capacity in the next 5 years from the date of their publication. This information shall be updated at least four times a year and be published on the grid operator’s website (Art. 7 par. 8l Energy Law). |
|---|
Priority to renewable energy
- Priority to renewable energy
- Non-discrimination
The grid operator is obliged to connect plants without discriminating against certain (groups of) plant operators, but giving priority to renewable energy sources (Art. 7 par. 1 Energy Law).
Capacity limits (quantitative criteria)
In case technical or economic conditions for grid connection of RES-plant are not met, the grid operator shall notify the applicant of available connection capacity. If the applicant, within 30 days from the date of receipt of the notification:
1) agreed to the connection of available capacity, the grid operator issues connection requirements;
2) did not agree to the connection of available capacity, the grid operator refuses to issue connection requirements (art. 7 par. 8d3 Energy Law).
Distribution of costs
| Plant operator | The costs of connecting a plant to the grid are borne by the plant operator. The connection charges are equal to the actual connection costs. Operators of renewable energy plants whose capacity does not exceed 5 MW only need to pay 50% of these costs. The connection of micro-installations (installations using renewable energy sources with a capacity up to 50 kW (Art. 3 No. 20b Energy Law, referring to RES-Act definitions) is free of charge (Art. 7 par. 8 No. 3 Energy Law). |
|---|
Poland